The European Union’s (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday said that it has become clear ‘the free world needs a new leader’, after US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sparred in the Oval Office, adding that Europeans should ‘take this challenge.’
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the agressor. Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
Ukraine is Europe!
We stand by Ukraine.We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the agressor.
Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) February 28, 2025
Leaders from across Europe expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian leader after the fractious exchange with JD Vance, the US vice-president, and Trump, who claimed he was not ‘ready for peace’ and accused him of ‘gambling with world war three’.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission, wrote on X supporting Zelenskyy, “Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”
Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.
Be strong, be brave, be fearless.
You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa.We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 28, 2025
The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, who just a day before had visited Trump at the White House, called Zelenskyy to express his support, a No 10 spokesperson said.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez shared a similar message on X and said, “Ukraine, Spain stands with you.”
Ucrania, España está contigo.
Ukraine, Spain stands with you.
Україно, Іспанія з тобою. 🇺🇦 🇪🇸
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 28, 2025
Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk said, “Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.”
Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) February 28, 2025
Earlier the conversation turned contentious when Vance and Zelenskyy discussed diplomacy, erupting into an argument about the Ukrainian president’s gratefulness for US support and ending with Trump calling Zelenskyy ‘disrespectful’ and saying he was ‘not ready for peace.’
